CHAPTER X.--AN UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER.
With thoughts so joyous and uplifted, Carol's feet scarcely seemed totouch the springy turf of the park as he returned to the Manor. Theuplifting joy, unlike anything that earth can give, which comes from theconsciousness that work done for, and in the Master's name, is acceptedof him, was his; the promised signs following.
He did not see Mrs. Mandeville until she paid her usual visit to hisbedroom.
His young face was radiant with joy and happiness. "Auntie," he said,"Mr. Higgs is beginning to understand; and he is losing his rheumatism."
Mrs. Mandeville smiled. There was so much love and tenderness in hersmile the incredulity was not apparent. She put a loving arm aroundhim, drawing the boy closer to her.
"Is that what you have been thinking to-night, dear?"
"Not altogether, Auntie. I have been thinking of what it means by thewords, 'The mind that was in Christ.' That was what I was reading whenI came to bed. If we are to have that Mind, we should understand what itis. But, Auntie, I can't get any farther than _love_: the mind that wasin Christ was love. God is Love, and Jesus said, 'I and my Father areone.' So, Auntie, when our hearts are filled with love for the poor andafflicted and sorrowing, it is the Christ mind that comes to us.Because Jesus loved all who came to him, he was able to heal them. Hesaid, 'I can of myself do nothing, it is the Father that worketh in me.He doeth the works.' Jesus was a perfect mirror, reflecting the lovewhich is God. That is why he said, 'They that have seen me have seen myFather also.' Cousin Alicia explained this once to me, but I did notquite understand it at the time. I see so clearly now. When we reflectlove as Jesus did, we shall be able to do the works that he did. Ioften wonder, Auntie, why Uncle Raymond and all the clergy who preachthe Gospel don't help people when they are ill. It is not beingobedient, is it?"
Mrs. Mandeville's face was grave.
"Ought I not to question this, Auntie?"
"Perhaps it would be better not, dear, until you are older. I do notunderstand myself. It is a subject I never seriously considered untilyou came to us. Now I think I must say good-night, my littlelie-awake."
"I always fall asleep soon after I have said 'good-night' to you,Auntie."
"That is right, darling. I do enjoy our little talks; they are verysweet and helpful to me, Carol."
Then, after a long, loving embrace, she left him, a grave, thoughtful,but happy expression on her face.
The following Saturday morning after breakfast the three little girlstold Carol, with delight, that they were going to the home farm in theafternoon, and begged him to go with them. Carol promised. He neverrefused to go anywhere or to do anything when Rosebud asked him. It wasdifferent with Percy and Frank. They were always too busy.
Carol knew how great a delight a visit to the farm was to the littlegirls, where each had a special pet of her own which the farmer's wifekindly took care of for them. Carol had visited the farm once before,and was almost as interested as the little girls in the animals andpoultry yard. The schoolroom children had grown out of the interestthey once had in visiting the farm.
Saturday being a school holiday, the boys were at home all day. Afterlunch Percy said:
"I say, Carol, some fellows are coming this afternoon; we are going tohave a game at rounders. You can manage that. Will you come?"
Carol was never asked to join in a game at cricket or football, as hisuncle and aunt feared it would not be good for him. "I am sorry, Percy;I cannot. I promised Rosebud and Sylvia to go with them to the farmthis afternoon."
Percy turned impatiently away. He was annoyed. Carol caught themuttered words: "Milk-sop prefers a walk with the babies."
He was not versed in school-boy slang, but naturally felt it was anopprobrious epithet applied to himself. A crimson flush rose to hisface. On the way to the farm, he asked Jane, the second nurse, whoaccompanied them:
"Can you tell me what milk-sop means, Jane?"
"Well, Master Carol, it's what school-boys call one another, sometimes.But it's not a nice word. I suppose it means something of a coward."
Carol fell behind. The crimson flush returned and dyed his cheeksagain. "Percy did not mean it. He spoke without thinking. He forgot Iam a soldier's son. _I am not angry_. I will not let you in!"
"Were you speaking, Master Carol?" Jane asked.
"I was only telling Mrs. Anger and Mr. Anger, and a lot of littleAngers, there is no room for them in my mansion. Love is there, andcannot be driven away."
"You do say such funny things, Master Carol," Jane remarked.
"But there is nothing funny in that, Jane. You see our mind is ourmansion, and if we keep it filled with loving thoughts, angry thoughtscannot creep in. Some angry thoughts were just trying to force theirway in, and I had to tell them there was no room."
Still Jane smiled, but she, as everyone else at the Manor, loved thegentle boy, who had what seemed to them such strange thoughts.
A messenger always appeared to go in advance and tell the farmer's wifewhen the little ladies might be expected. She never failed to have sucha lovely tea spread on a snowy white tablecloth, and her best chinagracing the table. Tea in the farm kitchen was quite different from theusual nursery tea at home. Such delicious scones and tea-cakes! (Itreally would not have pleased cook to hear the praise bestowed uponthem, as if she did not make quite as good.)
After tea they went around the farmyard to inspect their pets. A littlegosling, quite tame and friendly, was chosen for Carol's especial pet.The hour, which was all nurse had allowed them, passed very quickly, andthey started on the homeward walk. They had not gone far when adrizzling rain began. Jane then suggested the advisability of crossinga field which would shorten the distance considerably. When they cameto the field, she was surprised to find the gate fastened.
"This gate is generally open. I wonder why it is padlocked to-day, butit is not too high to get over. If you climb over first, Master Carol,I can lift Rosebud over to you."
Carol soon mounted the five-barred gate, and landed safely on the otherside, then received one by one Rosebud, Estelle, and Sylvia, from Jane'sarm, as she lifted them over. They had walked about two hundred yardswhen Jane stood still in an agony of fright, as an animal, which hadbeen lying unperceived in a distant corner of the field, rose up andcame towards them with a loud bellow.
"Oh, Master Carol! What shall we do? It's the bull! He's a terror!I've heard of him. He's a tosser!"
"Don't be frightened, Jane. Just walk quietly. The bull won't hurt us,if we are not frightened."
Jane caught Rosebud in her arms, and with Estelle and Sylvia clinging toeither side, walked as quickly as she dared towards the stile on theother side of the field. Fortunately, it was a stile easier to mountthan the five-barred gate had been. It was but the work of a moment andthe three little girls were lifted safely to the other side. Then, Janeturned to look for Carol. He had walked only a third of the distance,keeping always between the bull and his cousins, and now he stood faceto face with the animal, a few yards only between them. Another lowbellow, and then the animal bent his head to the ground, prepared for aspring.
"Run, run, Master Carol," Jane screamed. It was a fatal appeal. Themesmerism of fear seized Carol. He turned to look after his cousins.The next instant he was on the horns of the animal, tossed high in theair, as if he had been no heavier than an India-rubber ball.Mercifully, he fell on the other side of the hedge, which divided thatfield from the next. With a roar of baffled rage, the animal stampededthe field, seeking to toss his victim a second time.